Oakridge, Oregon

Highway 58 in Oakridge, c. 1940

Oakridge as seen from the north, along the North Fork Trail, with snow-capped Diamond Peak in the distance

The area now known as Oakridge was first explored by Euro-Americans in 1852 as a possible route for pioneers coming from Central Oregon to the Willamette Valley. A post office was named "Hazeldell" in 1888, and the place's name later changed to "Big Prairie", and then "Oak Ridge".[13][14][15] In 1912, a new community was formed and officially named Oakridge. Since its beginnings as a mountain ranch, Oakridge has been a railroad boomtown, a loggers' haven,[13] and an outdoor enthusiast's destination.[1][16]

The early boom for Oakridge can be attributed to the Southern Pacific Railroad. By 1910, work had already begun on Tunnel 22, a short route connecting Oakridge to the area now known as Westfir. Oakridge was a station on Southern Pacific's Cascade subdivision, a line that goes over Willamette Pass via the Natron Cutoff that was built in 1926, and the railroad played an integral part of the economy and lifestyle in Oakridge. The Union Pacific Railroad still operates the rails and trains are a common sight in Oakridge.[17] Today, Amtrak's Coast Starlight passes through the town but does not stop.

On July 2, 1946, the Pope and Talbot Lumber Company purchased timberland near Oakridge. By 1948, the company had built a large sawmill and had begun a massive timber logging operation. While the railroad and Westfir's Hines sawmill began to slow down, the Pope and Talbot mill expanded and eventually employed more than 500 people. The combined economic base of the railroad and sawmills accounted for the population growth of the 1960s and 1970s, when the community of Willamette City was consolidated into Oakridge.[14][18] However, in 1978, the Hines mill in Westfir closed, and by 1985 the Pope and Talbot Mill had laid off all of its workers. The City of Oakridge now owns the property that formerly housed the Pope and Talbot sawmill.[18]

In February 2019, an Amtrak Coast Starlight train was stranded near Oakridge for over 36 hours, after a rare heavy snowstorm.[19]

Oakridge sits at an elevation ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 feet (370 to 490 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.20 square miles (5.70 km²), of which 2.10 square miles (5.44 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) is water.[20]

Oakridge lies in a small valley in the foothills of the Cascade Range and is completely surrounded by the Willamette National Forest. Five streams are located in and around Oakridge; they are Salmon Creek, Salt Creek, Hills Creek, and the Middle and North forks of the Willamette River, the latter of which has been designated Wild and Scenic. Diamond Peak, a shield volcano located in the nearby Diamond Peak Wilderness to the southeast, can be seen from various spots in and around Oakridge. Waldo Lake, known as one of the purest lakes in the world, and Salt Creek Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Oregon, are located about 20 miles (32 km) east of town.[21][22]

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 3,205 people (up from 3,148 people at the 2000 census), 1,437 households, and 849 families residing in the city. The population density was about 1,526 inhabitants per square mile (589.2/km²). There were 1,605 housing units at an average density of about 764 per square mile (295.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was about 91% White, 1% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 1,437 households, of which about 24% had children under the age of 18 living with them, about 42% were married couples living together, about 11% had a female householder with no husband present, about 6% had a male householder with no wife present, and about 41% were non-families. About 34% of all households were made up of individuals, and about 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was about 2.2 and the average family size was about 2.8.

The median age in the city was about 48 years. Twenty percent of residents were under the age of 18; about 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; about 19% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and about 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

The town's two largest employers are the Oakridge School District and the United States Forest Service. However, in recent years there has been a cultural and economic revival centered on the outdoor recreational activities and local artists and craftspeople in the Oakridge area. Many new small businesses have opened, including a bicycle shop/ski shop/mercantile, an outdoor guide service, a microbrewery, and a bakery. The Uptown business district has formed the Uptown Business Revitalization Association (UBRA) and has worked to attract new businesses to the district. In 2016, a craft distillery and tasting room opened. While there is still a scarcity of local employment, Oakridge is creating new businesses and jobs 20 years after the closure of the lumber mill.[12]

The Oakridge School District consists of two schools and serves the children of Oakridge, Westfir, and outlying areas including High Prairie.

• Oakridge Elementary School - Grades K–6
• Oakridge High School - Grades 7–12

In 2008, Oakridge High School was recognized as one of the best high schools in America by U.S. News & World Report.[9]

The University of Oregon and Lane Community College are located 40 miles (64 km) to the west.

The Oakridge Public Library was built at 48318 E. First St., next to the city hall, in 2012. It was paid for with a federal grant of $800,000 and replaces a smaller library that was located in the city hall building.[30][31]

• Mason Williams, composer, "Classical Gas"
• Maximo Yabes, Medal of Honor recipient
• Laddie Gale, American basketball player

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oakridge, Oregon.

• Entry for Oakridge in the Oregon Blue Book
• Oakridge featured on NPR's State of the Re:Union